Made Beaver | The Canadian Encyclopedia

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Made Beaver

Hudson's Bay Company found it necessary to devise a unit of value that would accommodate Aboriginal people's bartering to European bookkeeping methods
Made Beaver Coin
Hudson's Bay Company brass made beaver from the Eastmain district (photo by James Zagon/courtesy Currency Museum, Bank of Canada).

Soon after its founding in 1670, the Hudson's Bay Company found it necessary to devise a unit of value that would accommodate Aboriginal people's bartering to European bookkeeping methods. A Standard of Trade was established, based on the made beaver (one prime beaver skin in good condition). Prices of all goods were set in Made Beaver. Later the HBC issued brass tokens in denominations of one Made Beaver and fractions thereof.

See also Fur Trade.